Carpet with Quatrefoil Design

Unknown

late 18th–early 19th century · Wool (warp, weft, and pile); symmetrically knotted pile · Islamic Art

This small carpet has a distinct star-medallion pattern that dominates the center field and a wide border in which four-flower patterns alternate with palmette motifs inserted in hook-like arch-motifs. The quatrefoil design derives from the medallion star-pattern rugs. Both quatrefoil and star patterns were common in workshops of the Ushak district. However the dark colors used in the background of the outer border of this carpet and the pile of white and green made of three yarns (instead of the usual two yarn pile) rather point to Central or Eastern Anatolia as the production place. The small size of this rug suggests that it was woven in a village, where women are known rather than men to have established small workshops.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 18th–early 19th century

Medium

Wool (warp, weft, and pile); symmetrically knotted pile

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

The James F. Ballard Collection, Gift of James F. Ballard, 1922